My not-so-ordinary Posse

This whole situation with my son is ridiculous. It technically started when my daughter was going through all the trouble with the school this year. He was facing the same truancy issue she was when we kept them home. Come to find out – we know for a FACT it was a lie when they told us we could not withdraw her until they had the letter. They indeed were just using that to keep stacking up days. We could have taken her out the day the incident on the bus happened and had 30 days to enroll her somewhere else before being dragged into court. I KNEW I was reading the law right – I kick my own ass every single time I don’t follow my gut. *headdesk* I digress…

Anyways, they decided after it all went down, NOT to charge my son with truancy. However, when some of the plots were foiled against my daughter and some of their “power” taken away by them not getting their way with her counseling, we saw motions begin against my son. (If you recall she has a counselor that has seen her through this last several years of BS – her brother has even had a sibling session). Suddenly right before Christmas break – like the final week before – my son’s Spanish teacher calls out of the blue and tells my husband Bubba is failing Spanish, that he has been showing signs of “depression” and they were sending home paperwork recommending a program for him; “did we want to start him immediately or after break?” I’m livid when I get the message from my hubby, no one called me at HOME, instead, they call him at work to talk to him about MY son. As soon as Bubba hits the door I ask him about it. He tells me that she told him the same thing. I ask how it is possible when he just brought a progress report home a few days before and he wasn’t failing? He didn’t know. He just let her tell him that and didn’t ask for clarification. *sigh* Then she tells him there is nothing he can do to pass – including the final. So he doesn’t. Seems this was another lie…..

I left a few messages with a few different people before break but no one bothered to return my calls. Then no one called after break either. In fact, no one called until I called the high school mid-week and asked to speak with the vice principal Mr. Swafford. Now, I like this guy so far. I’ve spoken to him a few times and we’ve had a positive interaction each time. He seemed shocked they had spoken to my son before even calling me and apologized they called his step-father instead of me, his mother. He assured me he would get to the bottom of it and would let me know what is being done. ETA: He also told me he would put the “word out to everyone we were refusing counseling”.

Instead, I get a call from the counselor. She doesn’t say she has talked to the vice principal, she says she is calling to talk about the message I left her. Even when I tell her she isn’t the only one I left a message with she hems and haws and denies any knowledge of anything else. She can’t answer me why they didn’t call me first, why they spoke to him before me, why no one called me back, why no one else has ever said anything like this about my son, why his coach who would know him best hasn’t raised questions….I start getting pissed. She keeps asking these little confused, lost sounding questions like “you don’t have any questions about the program?” Me: Uhhh no, I researched and found out all I needed to know and we are not interested…..“so if someone is concerned about your son they have to call you first?” I’m like what part of “Yes, he is a minor” does this chick not get? I informed her she would speak to his parents or his attorney first from this point on was that clear enough for her? She yes ma’am-ed me. LOL But WAIT it gets better…..

The NEXT day I call to talk to the v-p again only this time he doesn’t call, my sons’ Spanish teacher Mrs. West does. She tells me this whole spiel about a troubled, mean, withdrawn, socially inept kid… I’m sitting on the other end of the phone wondering if she has the right house and child. I even told her she was describing a stranger – that he was never this way at home or outside the school. That he spoke with adults and kids of all ages and I was often complimented about it. That HE was the one to pull the kid on the edges of the crowd in by going over, introducing himself and chatting with them like they are normal…..because they ARE. She told me he didn’t even bother with the final, like she gave him any reason to. (yes he got a stern talking to over her making a fool of him like that). She exaggerated certain things, left others out and flat out misrepresented the rest. She didn’t miss a beat when I told her it was a school problem not a social problem – that this was the result of everyone’s mom/uncle/cousin/sibling/brother’s/next-door-neighbor getting involved in a “feud”. Glossed right the hell over that road mine. Problem she had…..my son and I talk….about EVERYTHING. Even if no one will talk about my son’s “one hallway” problem. I already knew the whole, REAL story of what occurred in each situation she tried to use. She also throws in the name of my son’s coach (which is the first mention -and only after I said it first…) These people keep underestimating who they are dealing with. Then she dropped the nuke…..Asperger’s.

Everything screeched to a halt with that word! INSTANTLY! I immediately insisted that we have a meeting with all his teachers. She backtracked saying she “hoped she was able to attend” and started being all “I hope you don’t feel this is malicious or anything” and I told her I did (but odd phrasing right?!). She gave me the “I’m sorry you feel that way spiel” that she was “just concerned and really cares about my kid, says how smart he is etc” . Listen chick, you don’t get to drop a word like Asperger’s, say crazy shit about my child and then stroll off saying you hope you can be there to help figure it all out….

I called the school and left a message for the Superintendent. The person who called me back was Mr. Cox – he and I have had a few talks already. So yeah. There is a meeting scheduled Monday, AFTER school hours so we won’t be rushed with EVERYONE. First and Second Semester teachers – so his Spanish teacher doesn’t have to miss out after all (lol), principal/vice-principal, a Superintendent Dr. Bell, the counselors, our son and us of course. They tried to pass me off on P/T conferences – I said we didn’t want to be time limited. They tried to have Dr. Bell sit out since it was Dr. Jones who knew the case – I said since he was out on medical leave Dr. Bell should just sit in so we have it covered. NOTHING will be left to chance. I’m going to nip this in the bud.

Of course there is more to say but there are details I’d rather sit on till after we talk. After all, a good poker player never tips their hand….